Even the most casual travelers with a few hours to spare can enjoy traveling through this fantastic landscape of desert and rock. Highway 12, which begins near Bryce Canyon National Park [1] and continues along the wild canyon and slickrock country of the Grand Staircase—Escalante National Monument [2], is one of the most scenic roads in Utah. It’s also worth spending a night along the road in Boulder [3], home of the Boulder Mountain Lodge and famed Hell’s Backbone Grill.
If you have more time, plan to spend a couple of days exploring Grand Staircase—Escalante National Monument: perhaps a hike to Lower Calf Creek Falls [4] and a day trip down Hole-in-the-Rock Road [5], with explorations of Devil’s Garden [6] and the slot canyons in the Dry Fork of Coyote Gulch [7].
Allow at least a day to hike in Capitol Reef [8], which has many good day hikes, including the hike to waterpockets in Capitol Gorge [9].
In Glen Canyon National Recreation Area [10], the ultimate vacation is to rent a houseboat on Lake Powell [10], but if you’re not ready to make that commitment, consider a ferryboat ride across the reservoir between Hall’s Crossing [11] and Bullfrog [11].
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/utah/zion-and-bryce/bryce-canyon-national-park
[2] http://www.moon.com/destinations/utah/the-escalante-region/grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument
[3] http://www.moon.com/destinations/utah/the-escalante-region/boulder
[4] http://www.moon.com/destinations/utah/the-escalante-region/grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument/hiking/calf-creek-hikes
[5] http://www.moon.com/destinations/utah/the-escalante-region/grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument/sights-along-hwy-12/hole-the-rock-road
[6] http://www.moon.com/destinations/utah/canyonlands/arches-national-park/scenic-drive/spare-6
[7] http://www.moon.com/destinations/utah/the-escalante-region/grand-staircase-escalante-national-monument/hiking/escalante-river-hikes
[8] http://www.moon.com/destinations/utah/the-escalante-region/capitol-reef-national-park
[9] http://www.moon.com/destinations/utah/the-escalante-region/capitol-reef-national-park/hiking/hikes-the-scenic-drive
[10] http://www.moon.com/destinations/utah/the-escalante-region/glen-canyon-national-recreation-area
[11] http://www.moon.com/destinations/utah/the-escalante-region/glen-canyon-national-recreation-area/marinas